Amusement game apparatus



July 18, 1939 l. H wlLsEY AMUEMENT GAME APPARATUS Filed July ll, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. [rijen Mlgey BY o/ {1/wm 5M HIS ATTORNEY.

July 18, 1939. 1, H. wlLsl-:Y

AMUSEMENT GAME APPARATUS Filed July ll, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 una [roem H Mf/s HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented July 1s, 1939 2,166,228

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT GAME APPARATUS Irven H. Wilsey, Chicago, Ill., assignor of fortyve per cent to John H. Sharp, and ten per cent to E. W. Hibbard, both of Chicago, lll.

Application July 11, 1936, Serial No. 90,049

15 Claims. (Cl. 273-121) This invention relates to certain novelimprovein which the preferred form of construction of ments in amusement game apparatuses, and has the invention is illustrated, l indicates a suitfor its principal object the provision of an imable cabinet having a glass or transparent top proved construction of this character which will Il beneath which is arranged an inclined play- 5` be highly eicient in use and economical in manuboard I2 upon which balls or the like are adapted facture, to be projected through the medium of a suit- Among the several objects of this invention is able ball propelling device I3 of a well known and the provision of a spinning structure for obstruct- COIlVeIltOIlal Structure, the bells being eleVateC ing the movement of balls gravitating down an to the propelling device through a ball elevating 10,` inclined board of the apparatus, together with a means I4, likewise of a well known and convenl0` simple and expeditious combination and arrangetional structure. ment of parts for releasing the balls from the The inclined board is provided with upper and ball obstructing means of the apparatus. lower semi-circular shaped ramps l5, and the A still further object of the invention is the lower end thereof is provided with a ball exit provision in an amusement game apparatus of opening IG normally closed by a sate or panel 15 controlling the rebound of a ball projected upon i7 Sldably Connected t0 the inclined board I2 an `inclined 'board through the medium of a through the medium of slot and pin connection I8. stream of air directed through an orice located The sliding movement is imparted to the panel Il in the path of movement of the ball. by the slide bar I9 of a coin chute 23 of a well Another object of this invention is the provision known and conventional type and design, this 20 of pneumatic means acting as a baffle or deiiector movement being effected by sliding the bar I9 infor a ball projected for gravitation down an inwardly so as to bring the inner end portion 2l clned playboard. thereof into engagement with a depending arm Other objects will appear hereinafter. 22 of the panel or gate I1. Beneath this ball exit 25 The invention consists in the novel combinaopening I6 is aball return runway 23 which com- 25 tion and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter municates in a manner well known in the art described and claimed. with the elevator I4.

The invention will be best understood by ref- Disposed beneath the inclined board l2 is a erence tothe accompanying` drawings showing the chamber 24 formed by wall members 24 and preferred form of construction, and in which: which is substantially air-tight, and communi- 30 Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention; eating with this chamber 24 is a delivery nozzle Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of 25 of a blower 26 operable by a suitable electric the same taken substantially on line 2 2 of motor 2l. Fig. 1; Formed in the playboard I2 at predetermined Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail View of points are a plurality of openings 28 through 35 the same taken substantially on line 3 3 of which the air from the chamber 24 is adapted to Fig. 1; pass and be directed into suitable cup-shaped Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail View of discs 29 preferably provided with ian-like blades the same taken substantially on line 4 4 of 30, whereby when the air strikesthese blades 363, 401Fig. 1; the discs 29 will be caused to spin. These discs 40 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view 29 are connected, as at 3l, to rods 32 slidably of the same taken substantially on line 5 5 of arranged in brackets 33 secured to the inclined Fig. 1; board I2, as at 34. The lower end portions of Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of these rods 32 rest upon plates 35 slidably carried 45, the same taken substantially on line 6 6 of by supporting screws 36 suspended from the in- 5 Fig 5; clined board I2, as best shown in Fig. 8.

Fig, 'l is a fragmentary sectional detail view of Associated with each of these plates 35 is a the same taken substantially on line I 'I of magnetic element 3l, one side of which is con- Fg. 1; nected in circuit with a suitable source of energy Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional detail View 38, the other side of the source of energy being 50 of the same taken substantially on line 8 8 of connected to the opposite side of the magnetic ele- Fig. 2; and ment 31, and there being interposed in this cir- Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical view of a circuit cuit control switches 39. These control switches embodied in the invention. 39 include stationary contacts 40 secured to the Referring more particularly to the drawings, under side of the inclined board I2 and movable 55 contact elements 4I carried by the gate or panel I1.

In this circuit there is also provided a switch 42 which controls the circuit between the mag-I netic elements 31 and the source of electric energy 38 independent of the switches 39, for reasons which will be hereinafter more fully understood.

At the terminal of the upper ramp I5 of the inclined board is an enclosure 43 having a transparent top wall 44 and an open end 45. Communicating with the extreme inner end portion of the enclosure 43 adjacent its closed end 46 is a conduit 41 having communication with the chamber 24, whereby a constant stream of air is projected into the enclosure 43 toward the open end 45 thereof.

An alleyway may be provided at the lower end of the board, as indicated at 49, for directing the balls to the exit opening I6, the inclusion of this alleyway 48 being optional with the designer of the board.

In operation, the blower 26 is operated through the medium of the motor 21 having a suitable source of supply through the medium of conductors 21. This blower will force air into the chamber 24, whereupon the air will pass under pressure through the openings 28 against the blades 30 and cause the discs 29 to spin in a horizontal plane. The player projects a ball along the upper ramp I5, and this ball will pass into the enclosure 43 a predetermined distance into the path of the air passing upwardly through the conduit 41 and be blown back toward the upper portion of the board I2 for gravitation toward the lower end thereof.

Should the ball strike the discs 29', it will be deflected in one of many directions by virtue of the spinning action of these discs. These discs 29' differ from the discs 29 in that they are not capable of being elevated. If the ball is deflected by one of the discs 29 for passage downwardly between these discs, it will pass over the movable spring leaf 48 of the switch 42, closing the switch 42, whereupon certain of the magnets 31 are energized, and being energized they will attract the bars 35, elevating the spinning discs 29 to allow any balls trapped between these discs to be released for gravitation down toward the lower end of the board, The ball passing over the leaf spring 48 of the switch will be obstructed in its movement by the adjacent pair of discs, indicated at A, until these discs are elevated in the manner hereinbefore explained, whereupon the ball, indicated at B, will travel by gravity down the board and again be stopped by the next pair of discs, indicated at C, where it will be held until the ball B is again released for further gravitation down the playboard either to be stopped by a pair of discs or for gravitation to the exit opening I6.

It is to be noted that in the operation of the game, the degree of force by which the ball B is propelled along the upper ramp I5 will determine the distance the ball passes into the enclosure 43. The greater the distance of travel of the ball into the enclosure 43, the greater force of expulsion therefrom by the air directed to this enclosure through the duct 41, and consequently under such circumstances the ball may be forced back from the housing 43 a greater or lesser distance depending upon the distance of the travel of the ball into the enclosure 43.

The spinning discs may be highly decorated with different colors so as to have aesthetic appeal to the observer.

To discharge the balls from the playboard to the return runway of the elevator, the operator pushes the slide bar I9 of the chute 20 inwardly so as to push the gate or panel I1 inwardly from obstructing position with respect to the ball exit opening I6. At the same time the movable contact members 4I are brought into contact with the stationary contact members 40, completing the circuit between the source 38 and the magnets 3l to elevate the various discs 29 to release such balls as are trapped by the said discs. To cause the return of the panel or gate I1 into ball obstructing position, there is provided a retraction spring 22.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish toI be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I' claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a game apparatus of the pin ball type including a ball playing boardonto which balls are launched for devious move-- ment thereover, of pneumatically driven moving hazard barriers constructed and arranged to be engaged and stopped by said balls.

2. An amusement game apparatus comprising. an inclined board upon which balls are propelled for gravitation thereover, a plurality of pneumatically driven moving elements arranged in pairs upon said board in the path of the balls so as to be engaged by a ball and stopped thereby, and pneumatic means for driving said elements together with mechanism for effecting the disengagement of a ball from any of said pairs.

3. In amusement game apparatus of the type including a playing field upon which a ball is propelled for devious movement thereover, ball trapping means comprising members mounted in pairs in spaced relation to each other on said eld, said members being constructed and arranged to be spun in a horizontal plane, and the space between the same being normally less than that sufficient for said ball to pass therebetween, whereby said ball may become lodged between said members in a manner to arrest spinning movement thereof, and means for imparting spinning motion to said members.

4. In combination, means providing a playing field, a pair of shaft members mounted in spaced relation to project above said field, means for projecting a missile of predetermined size onto said eld, and missile-engaging means on each of said shafts and positioned oppositely to each other at a predetermined normal level above the surface of said field for rotation coaxially with the corresponding shafts, said shafts being arranged for axial displacement to move the respective missile-engaging means thereon out of their normal level relative to the playing field, the distance between the missile-engaging means being such that said missile may become lodged therebetween in a manner to prevent rotation thereof, means for impositively driving said missile-engaging means to effect spinning motion thereof for subsequent arrest by lodgment of the missile therebetween as aforesaid, and mechanism for displacing said shafts to increase the distance between the missile-engaging means 1liI thereon and said playing eld whereby to free a missile lodged therebetween.

5. In an amusement game apparatus having a playbo'ard on which a ball is adapted to move, a pneumatic chamber associated with the board and means for maintaining a substantially constant air pressure in said chamber, an enclosure having a ball-receiving entrance and arranged in the path of a ball moving on said playboard, and duct means communicating between said chamber and the enclosure, said entrance of the enclosure normally providing egress for air from said chamber whereby to provide a rebound means for said ball.

6. An amusement apparatus comprising an inclined board upon which balls may be propelled for gravitating movement thereover, and pneumatically-operated barrier means on said board for affecting the motion of gravitatingl balls thereon.

7. An amusement game apparatus comprising an inclined board onto which balls are propelled for gravitation thereover, a plurality of pneumatically driven elements arranged in pairs upon said board, pneumatic means for operating said elements, the latter each comprising disc-like members having fan blades formed thereon and the members of each said pair being disposed in spaced relation in a substantially horizontal plane, each said pair being positioned to be engaged by a ball gravitating on said board and the motion of the elements thereof stopped by said ball and operable when so engaged to hold said ball against further gravitation, together with selectively operable mechanism for moving the said elements of a pair out of holding position relative to a ball held thereby.

8. A game apparatus including an inclined board and means for projecting balls onto said board for devious movement thereover, together with barrier means in the form of rotating members arranged in pairs on said board with the members of each pair spaced apart a` distance less than the diameter of a ball whereby a ball moving over the board may be lodged between the members oi? a pair, means mounting said members for vertical movement to release a ball held thereby, means for rotating said members, and control mechanism operable by a ball on said board for raising the members of a said pair to release a held ball.

9. A game apparatus including a playboard, means for launching a projectile onto said board for devious movement thereover and barrier means in the form or moving elements arranged in pairs on said board with the elements of each pair cooperable to block the movement of a projectile engaging the same, means for rotating the elements` of a said pair, said elements also being movable out of stopping engagement with a projectile held thereby, and control mechanism arranged on said board for engagement by a projectile thereon and operable to effect a movement of the elements of a said pair to disengage a projectile stopped thereby.

10. A game apparatus including an inclined playboard, means for propelling a ball onto said board for gravitating movement thereover, barrier means on said board and including a plurality of disc-like members mounted for rotation in spaced relation in a plane substantially parallel to that of the board and at a distance above the board for engagement by a ball moving thereon, certain of said disc-like members being relatively spaced a distance less than the diameter of a ball so as to prevent the movement of a ball freely therebetween, means for rotating said disclike members, means mounting said members for axial movement relative to said board to disengage a ball held therebetween, mechanisms for moving said elements` axially, control means arranged on said board for operation by a ball to actuate certain of said last-mentioned mechanisms, together with manually operable mechanism for axially moving all of said disc-like members.

11. In a game apparatus of the type having an inclined ball playing board, means for propelling a ball onto said board for gravitation thereover, a pneumatic chamber beneath said board, and means for maintaining a pressure of air in said chamber, the combination therewith of pneumatic ball control means` in the form of moving elements arranged in spaced relation on said board and cooperable in pairs to stop a ball gravitating down the same, the members of a said pair stopping a ball being themselves stopped, means for directing air from said chamber to each of said moving elements to drive the latter, and pneumatic means communicating with said chamber and arranged on said board for engagement by a ball to change the direction of movement of said ball.

12. The combination with a game apparatus of the type including a play board upon which balls are launched for devious movement thereover, of means including an air chamber arranged below the board and a plurality of air-driven moving barrier elements positioned on said board for engagement by a ball moving thereover in such manner that a predetermined number of said moving elements will be stopped when engaged by said ball in a particular manner, and means for directing air from said chamber to each of said moving barrier elements, together with means for maintaining a substantially constant air pressure within said chamber when the game apparatus is in use.

13. In a game apparatus, a play iield and means for projecting a game instrumentality for movement relative to said play neld, and means providing a` hazard for said instrumentality and including air-driven rotatable barrier elements arranged in spaced relation on said playeld to be engaged by said instrumentality, said instruo mentality being of a size to lodge against any two of said elements in the region of the space therebetween, said engagement being effective to stop rotation of the elements engaged so long as said instrumentality remains in contact therewith, together with means providing a current of air for rotating said barrier elements.

14. Game apparatus including a ball playing board and means for projecting balls. thereover, together with barrier means in the form of airdriven rotatable members arranged in groups on said board in such manner that the distance between two rotatable members of a group is less than the diameter of a ball used for projection as aforesaid whereby such a ball may be lodged and arrested substantially between two rotating barrier members of a group to arrest the movement of the ball and said members, said rotatable members being constructed and mounted for releasing movement to release a ball arrested as aforesaid, and mechanism for effecting releasing movement of the barrier members for the purpose aforesaid, together with means for moving driving air relative to each of said air-driven rotatable members for effecting rotation of the same.

the distance between the missile-engaging means being such that said missile may become lodged therebetween in a manner to prevent rotation thereof, said missile-engaging means including air defiecting parts constituting each of the same an air motor, means for directing air against said deflecting parts to effect rotation of said missileengaging means, and mechanism for displacing said shafts as aforesaid to move said missileengaging means out of normal level whereby to 10 free a missile lodged therebetween.

IRVEN H. WILSEY. 

